Just as Liu Jing went to worship Zhou Yu, Zhang Zhao started negotiations on behalf of Jiangdong and Sima Yi in the Qinzheng Hall of Jianye Palace. In addition to Zhang Zhao, Gu Yong and Yu Fan were also sitting in Jiangdong, while the other party was Sima Yi and Liu Min. Liu Min, as Sima Yi's assistant, also sat down.

"Mr. Zhang, this is our second time dealing with you!"

Sima Yi smiled and said, "I hope this time can be reached smoothly, just like last time."

Zhang Zhao smiled faintly, "We are brothers, with close relationships and a marriage between Qin and Jin. However, as the saying goes, brothers must settle accounts clearly. I think some things should be honest. What do Sima Envoy think?"

Sima Yi nodded, "I like the word "candid" by Junshi Zhang very much."

"Since that's the case, I'll get straight to the point. We want to know why Liu Zhoumu asked Jiangdong to send troops to the Central Plains?"

"We cannot say that the word 'requiry' is too tough. We have no right to ask Jiangdong to do anything, but hope that Jiangdong will send troops. The purpose is of course very simple. Weak Cao Cao's strength, both for Jingshu and Jiangdong, will be beneficial."

Sima Yi knew very well what Zhang Zhao meant, that was, he wanted to make this matter a matter of the Han army asking for help from Jiangdong, and then he could speak out in terms of conditions, so Sima Yi must avoid this point. He wanted Jiangdong to understand that not only the Han army gained benefits, but also Jiangdong was beneficial.

Zhang Zhao shook his head, "Frankly speaking, we have no plan to fight the Northern Expedition for the time being, especially after the defeat in Hefei, the military and civilians in Jiangdong were very resistant to the Northern Expedition. We are planning to fight the Southern Expedition. Now that the Muslim in Liuzhou has a request, let's just say hope! I hope we will send troops to the Central Plains, not to mention dispatching troops and generals, and prepare supplies. More importantly, Wu Hou must first convince all civil and military officials and change the Southern Expedition plan. We will consume a lot of manpower and material resources. I hope you can understand this."

Zhang Zhao was clever and blocked Sima Yi's retreat one by one. More importantly, he knew that the other party was coming to Jiangdong, and even Liu Jing came to Jiangdong in person. It can be seen that the other party's expectation for Jiangdong to send troops. Since this is the case, he had to use this expectation to seek the greatest benefit for Jiangdong.

Sima Yi nodded, "We also know the difficulties of Jiangdong, so Jingzhou will give Jiangdong certain compensation. Lu Zijing should have told Wu Hou that we plan to transfer Changsha County and Hengyang County to Jiangdong as compensation for sending troops. I think Military Secretary Zhang should know too!"

"But... we heard that there is Qichun County." Zhang Zhao looked at Sima Yi with a smile.

"Qichun County is just an option. If Jiangdong does not have Changsha County and Hengyang County, then you can choose another Qichun County."

"Mr. Zhang, I am a candid person. I think we should meet honestly between the two families. We can send troops, but the conditions are slightly different from yours."

Sima Yi looked at Zhang Zhao's unconcealable pride. He had probably guessed the other party's conditions in his heart. He said without saying a word: "I'm willing to listen carefully!"

"The conditions are very simple. We also want not only Changsha County and Hengshan County, but also Qichun County. That is, all three counties will return to Jiangdong. In addition, we also hope that Jingzhou can afford the military rations for the Jiangdong Army's northern expedition. There are only so many conditions, can we agree?"

Sima Yi suddenly felt angry. It was too much. He actually wanted the three counties of Jingzhou. Not only that, but also Jingzhou had to bear military rations. Sima Yi said coldly: "When we put tens of thousands of Jiangdong soldiers back to Jiangdong, there was no condition. Why was Jiangdong so harsh?"

Zhang Zhao didn't say anything for a long time, and finally sighed slightly, "I'm sorry, but Jiangdong has suffered repeated setbacks over the years, his morale is sluggish, his public resentment is boring, and his financial resources are gradually in poverty. Please ask the Sima Military Advisor to understand our difficulties."

Sima Yi certainly understood them and tried his best to use this opportunity to extract the greatest benefits for Jiangdong. He restrained his dissatisfaction and said to Zhang Zhao: "It is the greatest sincerity to allocate Changsha County and Hengyang County to Jiangdong. If Jiangdong is not satisfied, then we can only say sorry. As for other conditions, Jingzhou cannot agree."

Sima Yi had a clear attitude and no room for compromise. The negotiation took an entire hour, but it ended in vain and the two sides could not reach a compromise.

After the negotiations were over, Zhang Zhao immediately rushed back to Jianye Palace. He bowed to Sun Quan and said, "Report to the Marquis of Wu, as we had expected before, the other party refused to accept our conditions, and still insisted on the original conditions, with a very firm attitude."

Sun Quan smiled and asked, "Did they mention that there is no need for Jiangdong to send troops?"

"This is not mentioned, they still hope we can send troops."

"That's right!"

Sun Quan sneered: "They still hope that we will send troops in their hearts. As long as they grasp this, they will not be afraid that Liu Jing will not compromise. As I expected, sending troops to the Central Plains is related to his battle in Guanzhong, which is very important to him. Since it is so important, he will of course have to pay the necessary price."

Sun Quan took a few steps behind his hands and said, "The negotiations stopped temporarily. I believe that the possibility of Liu Jing compromise is greater if he drags it back a little."

.........

A carriage quickly drove towards Changgan Palace. On the carriage, Liu Min said worriedly: "I don't think it's appropriate to give Hengyang County to Jiangdong. If we lose Hengyang County, we will not be able to support Xiangdong County and Guiyang County. In fact, we will lose Xiangdong and Guiyang County. This is too expensive."

Sima Yi smiled slightly and said, "Although your worries make sense, you have to understand one thing. The provincial governor has thought about it carefully. He understands it very well in his heart, including Jia Xu, who has also carefully considered it for the provincial governor. Since such conditions are put forward, there is his own reason, you don't have to worry too much."

Liu Min nodded silently. He was indeed a little worried. Soon, the carriage arrived at Changgan Palace. In the reception hall of Changgan Palace, Liu Jing met Sima Yi and listened to his report on the negotiations. After Sima Yi finished speaking, Liu Jing shook his head and made a clear statement: "I have already made it clear on the way to Jiangdong that the conditions for any material cannot be agreed. As for them, they still want Qichun County..."

Liu Jing turned around and looked at Sima Yi and said, "My principle is to go south from the east of the Yangtze River. Does the military advisor understand?"

Sima Yi nodded silently, "I understand."

"Since the military advisor understands it, I don't need to say anything more. But one thing must be clear. They must send troops to Hefei and Xuzhou before they can get the benefits I gave up. They cannot be just a nominal sending army like the last time. This cannot be vague."

"The ministers will make this clear with you, and the time for the troops needs to be clarified."

Liu Jing pondered for a moment and said, "We also need time to deploy, just in early November! After the north began to freeze, both sides sent troops together."

...........

After three consecutive negotiations, the Sun and Liu families finally reached a compromise. Jiangdong gave up the request for military rations and also gave up the request for Qichun County. As compensation for profit, Liu Jing agreed to allocate the four counties of Changsha, Hengyang, Xiangdong and Guiyang to Jiangdong. The two sides reached an agreement that Jiangdong would send 80,000 troops to attack the Central Plains, while Jingzhou would send 100,000 troops to attack the Central Plains from Nanyang and Runan.

Ten days later, Liu Jing ended his visit to Jiangdong and prepared to return to Jingzhou.

On the Yangtze River Wharf outside Jianye City, Sun Quan led all officials to say goodbye to Liu Jing again, and Sun Quan's wife Xie and other female relatives were also saying goodbye to Sun Shangxiang. Outside the wharf, tens of thousands of people from Jiangdong came spontaneously to send Princess Liu Jing and Shangxiang back west.

"Brother, don't have to send it away!"

Liu Jing clasped his fists and said with a smile: "I hope our cooperation in winter can be successful, and I also wish Jiangdong a successful victory over Xuzhou and Hefei. I hope this is a win-win cooperation."

Sun Quan smiled a little reluctantly. Cao Cao would not give up the Central Plains to them. He felt like a mirror in his heart. Sooner or later, he would have to withdraw his troops. If it weren't for the four counties of Jingnan, he would not have agreed to this northern expedition. But he had to say politely. Sun Quan smiled, "This is the common hope of both of us. I also hope that my brother will not go in vain this trip to Jiangdong. I will take care of him all the way!"

The officials from Jiangdong also saluted one by one, "Liuzhou Mu has a smooth journey!"

"Take care, please see you if you have the chance!"

Liu Jing bowed to everyone and turned toward the ship. At this time, Sun Shangxiang said goodbye and walked quickly under the escort of several female soldiers. She smiled at Liu Jing, held his arm, turned around and waved to his brother and officials, and walked towards the ship with Liu Jing.

"Mr., there may be guests in our family coming next year." Sun Shangxiang smiled when he got on the boat.

"Who is it?"

"Xiao Qiao is coming. She said she was very depressed in Jiangdong and wanted to go out for a walk, so I invited her to Chengdu. Is it OK?"

"sure!"

Liu Jing smiled and said, "But we may move next year."

"Return to Xiangyang?" Sun Shangxiang asked in surprise.

Liu Jing waved to the people who said goodbye to them on the shore, and then smiled at Sun Shangxiang: "It's just possible, it's not confirmed yet. Let's talk about it next year!"

Sun Shangxiang's eyes also turned to tens of thousands of people who gave them to them. She sighed slightly: "The same was true last time, and this time they were still so enthusiastic. What kind of virtue can I bear their great expectations?"

"You are too arrogant. Do you know what kind of outcome will happen if Jiangdong will marry me?" Liu Jing asked with a smile on her shoulder.

Sun Shangxiang blinked and asked, "Oh! Could it be that the husband is trying to attack Jiangdong?"

"Sooner or later, the world will be unified. I hope to protect the Sun family to the greatest extent, and I have to give my wife a face."

Liu Jing lowered his head and kissed Sun Shangxiang on the cheek, then smiled and said, "But now, what I care more about is whether we have harvested spring and winter cultivation these days."

Sun Shangxiang leaned her head on his shoulder and whispered: "To be honest, I have a very strong feeling. Maybe next year, I will teach my baby daughter to practice martial arts."

"You have it?" Liu Jing looked at her in surprise.

"I don't know, I just feel something is wrong."

Sun Shangxiang hugged his arm and smiled mischievously: "I'm afraid the farming efforts are not enough, and it takes the husband's efforts to get better results."

Liu Jing pinched her nose and said, "There is no way to deal with you, let's go! Let's go back to the cabin and discuss the true meaning of life."

Although Sun Shangxiang felt that it was inappropriate during the day, she finally followed Liu Jing halfway and halfway into the cabin.
Chapter completed!